Playmakers to present romantic comedy

Wed Jan 28 2009

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Playmakers will present a romantic comedy just in time for Valentine’s Day. “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani is set in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine.

As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways.

Mia Self, assistant professor of theater and the play’s director, had this to say about the play: “Love can lift us up, but it can also drop us flat. I fell in love with “Almost, Maine” from the first reading because it so clearly captures how wickedly funny people are while falling in love. From start to finish, this play captures the wonderful and awful faces of love in moments that are stunning, stupid and deliciously silly.” (more…)

Dr. Rand Brandes’ essay included in book

Tue Jan 27 2009

Dr. Rand Brandes, Martin Luther Stevens Professor of English at Lenoir-Rhyne University, has contributed an essay to a new book about Irish poet Seamus Heaney. Brandes’ essay is the first chapter in “The Cambridge Companion to Seamus Heaney,” edited by Bernard O. Donoghue. The book is a part of the Cambridge Companions to Literature series. Brandes’ essay is entitled “Seamus Heaney’s Working Titles: From Advancements of Learning to Midnight Anvil.” The publisher described the book this way: “Seamus Heaney is a unique phenomenon in contemporary literature, as a poet whose individual volumes (such as his Beowulf translation, and individual volumes of poems such as Electric Light and District and Circle) have been high in the bestseller lists for decades. Since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature, he has come to be considered one of the most important English language poets in the world. “This companion gives an up-to-date overview of his career thus far, and of his reception in Ireland, England and around the world. Its distinguished contributors offer detailed readings of all his major publications, in poetry, prose and translation. The essays further explore the central themes of his poetry, his relations with other writers, and his prose writing. Designed for students, this volume will also have much to interest and inform the general reader and admirer of Heaney’s unique poetic voice.”  The book is available from amazon.com.

Climate change forum planned

Tue Jan 27 2009

“A Forum on Climate Change: Opposing Views” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center, located at 1960-A 13th Ave. Dr. S.E., Hickory.

This free, public program is sponsored by the Thomas W. Reese Institute for Conservation of Natural Resources at Lenoir-Rhyne University and the John Locke Foundation.

“This topic has been widely debated in the past. Most scientists agree that the climate is warming,” said Dr. John Brzorad, director of the Reese Institute. “There is some debate about the computer models that forecast the rate of future warming. Americans are also reluctant to change their attitudes and behavior, and this takes time. As with nearly all environmental issues, there is an economic side as well. We must weigh the costs and benefits of business as usual vs. the revenue that could be produced from new technology and innovation. We believe it is essential that the public hear both sides of this issue.”

Two scientists will discuss the merits of the scientific evidence for and against human-caused climate change. The speakers will be Dr. William H. Schlesinger, president of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and Dr. John R. Christy, professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama. (more…)

Basketball alumni reunions planned

Mon Jan 26 2009

Lenoir-Rhyne University will hold its annual Alumni Basketball games during two Saturdays in February.

All men and women who played basketball while students at L-R are encouraged to participate in these alumni games – the men will play at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, and the women will play at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 21. All players will receive a free tee-shirt.

If you would like to play during these games, contact Suzanne Jackson at (828) 328-7080 or Suzanne.jackson@lr.edu .

The current L-R men and women players will play home games the evening of the alumni games. L-R play Lincoln-Memorial on February 14 and Catawba College on February 21 – men at 6 p.m. and women at 8 p.m.

For more information, call (828) 328-7171 or go to www.alumni.lr.edu .

U.S. Navy Concert Band to perform at LRU

Thu Jan 15 2009

The United States Navy Concert Band, Washington D.C., will perform in Hickory, N.C. during its spring 2009 national tour. The Concert Band will perform in Lenoir-Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

As with all military band concerts, admission is free. Reservations are being accepted in advance of the event, and those interested in attending are urged to make their reservation early, as the concert may sell out. Reservations can be secured by contacting Lenoir-Rhyne Friends of Music on the web at http://www.lr.edu/mus/navyband.asp or by phone at 828-328-7060. Reservation holders need to plan to arrive before 7:15 p.m., as empty seats will be released to those without reservations at that time.

The Navy’s premier musical organization, the Concert Band features some of the nation’s top musicians and performs a wide variety of music ranging from classical orchestral works to original arrangements of current popular favorites, as well as traditional marches and patriotic fare.

Congress established the United States Navy Band on March 4, 1925. During its 80 years of service, the Navy Band has become associated with events of national and international significance. The band performed for Charles Lindbergh’s return from his transatlantic flight, for the rededication of the National Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, and the welcoming ceremonies for Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev. The band has participated in 20 presidential inaugurals and often appears at national dedications and memorial services, recently playing a vital role in the state funeral for

President Ronald Reagan, the dedication of the National D-Day Memorial and the dedication of the National World War II Memorial. The band is conducted on this tour by its Commanding Officer and Leader Captain George N. Thompson. “We are very excited to host the Navy Band,” said Dr. Christopher Nigrelli, coordinator of the concert series. “This is one of the finest concert bands in the nation are proud to present internationally acclaimed talent right here in Hickory, and for free. We are very grateful for the community support that makes our concert series possible so that we can make the finest musical events available to the community.”

L-R students to exhibit artwork

Thu Jan 15 2009

Several Lenoir-Rhyne University art students and recent graduates will exhibit their work at the Old Rock School Gallery in Valdese Feb. 2-27.

Those who will be exhibiting their work include Jessica Gullette, a senior studio art major; Kelly Moss, a senior studio art major; Daniel Charles a 2008 studio art graduate; Michelle Lackey, a junior graphic design major; Karmen Bixby, a recent art education graduate; Pat Jenkins, a studio art student; and Craig Knauff, a studio art student.

The public is invited to a free opening reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3. The gallery is located at 400 West Main Street in Valdese. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The gallery is located inside the historic Old Rock School, which is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This building was the first high school in Valdese. It was built by Waldensian craftsmen in the early 1920s and served as a school for 57 years. In 1986, a $1 million renovation of the facility was completed.

The classrooms now serve as office space for local businesses and organizations and for two art galleries. The Old Rock School Gallery is operated by the Rock School Arts Foundation.

December graduates announced

Wed Jan 14 2009

Lenoir-Rhyne University graduated 78 students at its December commencement ceremony. They are as follows.

CALIFORNIA:
Redding: Elycia Leanne Zempel, B.A., political science, summa cum laude and program honors.

FLORIDA:
Fort Myers: James Daniel Boback, MBA
Tamarac: Mark Albert Drucker, B.A., marketing.

KENTUCKY:
Berea: Tabetha Lynn Jones, B.S., human occupational studies.

NORTH CAROLINA:
Burlington: Barry Donnell Tate, B.A., sports management.

Cary: Lauren Mancuso, B.S., human occupational studies, honors academy and magna cum laude.

Charlotte:
Richard Alexander Harris, B.S., health and exercise science, magna cum laude, second honor graduate.
Megan Rae Large, B.A., philosophy and religious studies history and thought; first honor graduate and summa cum laude.
John Michael Papadopulos Jr., B.A., history.
Jason Paul Temples, B.S., computer science.

(more…)

Dean’s List announced

Wed Jan 14 2009

Lenoir-Rhyne University has announced the Dean’s List for the fall 2008 semester.
Qualifying students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better, provided no grade was below a C and the student carried at least 12 hours of letter-graded courses. The following Dean’s List students are listed by state and town of residence.

CALIFORNIA:
Cupertino: Deanna Marie DesCamp
Northridge: Rebecca Lin

FLORIDA:
Gainesville: Mariel Mena
Jacksonville: Shawn Ryan Gray
Ocala: Colin Michael Corpe
Sarasota: Bradley James McClaugherty
Venice: Wade Langston Swikle

GEORGIA:
Augusta: Benjamin Wright Witcher
Loganville: Richard Lee Walker
Snellville: William Barton Keeler

INDIANA:
Fairmount: Breanne Michelle Yingling

MARYLAND:
Clarksville: Richard James Wharton
Myersville: Rachel Marie Aldrich

MISSISSIPPI:
Pontotoc: Emily Elizabeth Hester

NEW YORK:
Vestal: Catherine Lynn Covert

President’s List announced

Wed Jan 14 2009

HICKORY, N.C.  Lenoir-Rhyne University has announced the President’s List for the 2008 fall semester.

Qualifying students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or better on a 4.0 scale, provided the student carried at least 12 hours of letter-graded courses. The following President’s List students are listed by their state and hometown.

CALIFORNIA:
Redding: Elycia Leanne Zempel

FLORIDA:
Bradenton: Kristen Suzanne Fulmer
Howey In the Hills: Kevin Mark Watkins
Orange Park: Stephanie Marie Mathis, Kyle O’Donald Starling
Sarasota: Leslie Ann Conetta
Tampa: Deborah Lee Stroupe

GEORGIA:
Atlanta: Robert Michael Duncan
Duluth: Jennifer Michelle Platzer
Peachtree City: Glenn Paul Goorsky
Savannah: Megan Kastina Maner

IDAHO:
Gooding: Lucas Paul Carnohan

INDIANA:
Auburn: Nichole Ashley Laher

MARYLAND:
Millersville: James Augustus Fisher
Waldorf: Karen Joy Fletcher

NORTH CAROLINA:
Asheville: Kelley Elizabeth Hensley, Kari Elizabeth Jauch
Belmont: Caitlan Annette Reese, Halee Suzanne Richmond
Boone: Isaac David Smith
Candler: Caitlin Nicole Hensley
Catawba: Lauren Marie Yoder
Charlotte: Meghan Rae Large
Cherryville: Leah Nichole Staton
Claremont: Andrea Denise Harwell, Matthew Thomas Paynter
Clayton: Gennilee Louise Eisenmann
Cleveland: Chandee Leigh Payne
Concord: Daniel Alexander Deal, Brian Patrick Lewis
Connelly Springs: Julia Mary Byrd, Bradley Len Icard
Conover: Kristin Joy Kelly, Kenneth Scott Miller, Amanda Lea Shelton, Brian David Sullivan, Natasha Nichole Townsend, Joseph Chris White
Cornelius: Sarah Marie Estridge
Dallas: Stephen Thomas Rankin
Durham: Sean Robert Madden
Franklin: Matthew Gray Corbin, Alisha Robin Huettig
Granite Falls: Ashley Lauren Ford, Lisa Michelle Johnson
Greensboro: Katherine Lee Stephens, Mary Ellen Stephens
Hickory: Agnieszka Anna Biczak, Jennifer Kamil Brown, Todd Steven Dickerson, Stephanie Pulliam Hays, Amanda Lorene Hunsucker, Lindsey Dawn Kenz, Robert John Knight, Kathryn Elayne Krumlauf, Katie Marie Long, Norman Grant Meres, Kelly Anne Moss, Jacqueline Michelle Payne, Christopher Paul Reidel, Brittany Alison Ridenour, Marie Elizabeth Smith, Rebecca Kerr Smith, Joshua Michael Stone, Bonnie Lovin Wallace
Hudson: Keisha Diane Bolick, Brandi Rochelle Collins, Rebecca Ivania Morales
Huntersville: Courtney Marie Norris
Jamestown: Laura Ashley Jones
Lenoir: Lauren Nicole Davis, Elizabeth Annette Kirby, Daniel Lee Prestwood
Lincolnton: Caroline Elizabeth Houser, Joshua Aaron Poole
Locust: Kevin Michael Hathcock
Matthews: Kathryn Elizabeth Meiners
Monroe: Alyssa Ellen Carlson
Mooresville: Desirae Chari Ball, Erica Brooke Christenbury
Morganton: Joshua Caleb Farris, Timothy William Henry Michaels
Murphy: Morris Raymond Patton
Newton: Carlee Ann Carpenter, Katie Nicole Lunsford, Iryna Ramniova
Pinehurst: Stephanie Caroline Carter
Salisbury: Haley Alise Haithcock, Candice Marie Marlin, Brittany Leigh Wietbrock
Sparta: Elizabeth Moriah Flattery
Spruce Pine: Keith Samuel Holtsclaw
Stanley: Kyra Leigh Varney, Amanda Renee Withers
Statesville: Amy Denise Dellinger, Jeffery Wayne McDaniels, Bryan Chase Walden
Taylorsville: Tyler Butler Bumgarner, Ashley Lauren Campbell, Natasha Lynne Fox, Kelly Canter Smith, Jacob Ira Stuckey
Valdese: Hailey Michelle Garrou, Sarah Marie Houser, Lincoln Tyler Sigmon
Vale: Mary Caroline Gladden
Waxhaw: Jacob Andrew Thiesen
Wendell: Ashley Jordan Barker
West Jefferson: Lindsay Claire Yount
Wilkesboro: Angelica Beth Nichols
Wilmington: Amber-Leigh Marie Clamser
Winston-Salem: Hope Dawn Alwine, Alicia Michelle Leonard, Devin Chase Tuttle
Wayne: Andrea Mae Stover

NEW JERSEY:
Flemington: Nicole Elizabeth Phegley

SOUTH CAROLINA:
Blythewood: Kathryn Frances Miles
Duncan: Allison Kate Bourgeois
Mauldin: Jacquelyn Nicole Williams
Newberry: Lydia Jean Aurand

TENNESSEE:
Louisville: Hamilton Cheney Borden
Sevierville: Jacquelyn Lauren Kremer

VIRGINIA:
Abingdon: Kayla Raquel Latham
Danville: Curtisha Nichelle Stephens
Falls Church: Alice Antoinette Romanelli
Fort Defiance: Brittany Danyele Davidson
Lynchburg: Andrew James Talian
Mechanicsville: Anna Catherine Mosteller
Salem: Cathryn Cash Jarrett

Concert to feature Schubert songs

Tue Jan 13 2009

The Concert Series at Lenoir-Rhyne University will present a Schubertiade concert on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 2:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory. A Schubertiade is an intimate concert usually held in a home amongst friends who have gathered to hear the songs of Franz Schubert.

The concert is free, and the L-R Friends of Music invite the entire community to experience the fellowship of the afternoon, including a reception following the concert.

The concert will feature guest artist Jerrold Pope, a celebrated baritone who has performed with opera companies around the world, including the Théà tre du Châtelet in Paris, England’s Glyndebourne Opera Festival and Buxton Opera Festival, Netherlands Opera Forum in Amsterdam, and Kiel Oper in Germany as well as opera companies of Pittsburgh, Tulsa, Orlando, Grand Rapids, Hawaii, Connecticut Grand, Anchorage, and the Texas Opera Theater.

His festival appearances include the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfest, London’s BBC Proms, the Tanglewood Music Festival, Saratoga Music Festival, and the Carmel Bach Music Festival. Pope has made solo appearances with the Rotterdam Philharmonia, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh, Charleston, St. Louis, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, as well as with New York’s Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Denver Chamber Orchestra, Lydian Chamber Orchestra, Naples Philharmonia, and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart. Pope is currently an associate professor and chair of voice at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts School of Music.

The concert will also feature Judith Burbank, Vocal Artist in Residence at Lenoir-Rhyne University.  Her operatic performances include more than eight seasons with the Theater der Stadt Heidleberg, Germany, as well as roles with the Erfurt Theater and the Salzburger Landestheater in Austria.